Narrative voice – a powerful and consistent storyteller persona appropriate to the material.
Narrative structure (Plot) -- drama through conflict in reconstructed reality
Person with problem
Struggle: solve it, avoid it, or come to grips with it the tension heightens as protagonist fails to reach final solution (although may achieve partial resolution) throughout scenes. Connection to audience is based on potency of conflict choice and body-based empathy
Climax/Resolution: occurs when person can do no more and succeeds or fails to solve problem. The struggle must have the potential of creating transformation whether the struggle is a success or failure. The transformation may or may not be illuminated
Scenes, connected mini-narratives, (solution attempts fail, and heighten overall tension while releasing short term tension)
Scenes must always contribute to the central story.
Scenes should do what the story does in miniature (problem, struggle, resolution)
Scenes should have functions within the central story: ie advance plot, develop character, describe setting, create or enhance a mood or effect, etc.
Character - Important to rich story -- voiced, embodied
Setting - vivid, sensual
Tools -
action,
narration (telling about what happened rather than showing with action)
point of view
dialogue
description
The problem of fidelity to the world of factual data versus the world of truth.
BALLAD CONSIDERATIONS
Ballads are super compressed. Every word must accomplish contribute to
Characterize or clarify the situation
Move plot
Develop character
Establish a vivid setting
Storytellers/Balladeers use a rhythm of building/releasing tension to heighten conflict
Successful Stories/Ballads mus meet the performance expectations aroused by
The Title
Engaging conflicts
Potent Images, settings
Climax comes when character can, or will, do no more.
BALLAD CONSIDERATIONS